Acer Helicopter 1/2

Parnell Corder
Maple Seed
Watercolor on paper, 2009
22" 30"

November Vanda

November Vanda, 2009
Watercolor on paper
30" x 22"

VARIEGATED PELARGONIUM

More Commonly known as GERANIUM ! I'm a big fan of VARIEGATION, there is a liveliness to a variegated leave that I am always drawn to in a garden setting. This plant has a fresh lemony/minty smell when the leaves are rubbed in the hand.
VARIEGATED PELARGONIUM
Watercolour on paper
22" x 22"

Here's To You Mrs. Robinson!

Last week I had the amazing pleasure to visit the OUTSTANDING
Virgina Robinson Estate and Gardens located in the fabulous city of Beverly Hills, CA .


THE POOL HOUSE has a Billiard and Card Room.



View from the pool house to the home. GORG!

I took the tour of the estate with my friend David. We had a smashing time walking the gardens and home .We got a special treat to be shown around by the Managing Director, Timothy Lindsay who filled in for a regular docent who was MIA. I think there was a sale at Cartier.



The Singing Staircase. It sings as the water trickles down the center trough. Magical Sounds


-Highly recommended to any one who enjoys Gardens, Beaux Arts California Architecture and History. Such Fun! The Estate holds grand parties and offers a variety of programs including Botanical Illustration Instruction (I'm there), Benefits and Exhibitions for Floral Designers and Fancy Hat Garden Galas. TOO MUCH! Its hard to imagine but this estate was grown from rough California terrain when goats, cows and scrub typical of Southern California landscape was all that would become the luxury which is now Beverly Hills.




Mr. Lindsay discusses one of the two Rose Gardens. One for cutting flowers and one for show.


Mary Pickford ate here

Salon

Library with over 3000 rare books



Built in 1911, the Robinson Estate was one of the first homes in Beverly Hills. Its owner Virgina Robinson (of Robinsons- May department store fame), was known as “The First Lady of Beverly Hills” She transformed her hilly, six acre estate into a lushly landscaped, tropical oasis. Her regular bridge games at the estate attracted Fred Astaie, Charles Boyer and Maurice Chevalier. She was also known for her grand parties which were attended dignitary such as Ronald Reagan. When she died in 1977 (at age 99) she was busy planning her 100^th birthday party! She willed her manor to the Los Angeles County for the public’s enjoyment. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic places.

Opened to the public in 1982, this estateis not only known for being one of the first homes in Beverly Hills, but alson for its six sloping acres of veritable lush gardens featuring exotic tropical and subtropical specimens. A delight to visit any time of the year because there is always something in bloom.

Terraced patio gardens connected by brick paths with fountains and ponds help create a stunning private garden world.

The Virgina Robinson Gardens

1-310-276-5367

1008 Elden Way

Beverly Hills, CA

90210

Available for tour by appointment only.

ARTPLANTAE ONLINE ARTICLE

FILOLI UPDATE (finally)

The Beautiful Filoli Estate

A dramatic view from the terrace

Well, the 11th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition opened on July 23, 2009 I drove and drove from LA to Woodside ,CA on Thursday just for the opening. Im very pleased I did. I had a great time and the Exhibition is beautiful. The show was hung with some incredibly fine examples of top notch Botanical Illustrations from some of the most acclaimed illustrators around. I was very honored to be included in this select group.

Traveling to and From. Funny, this drive basically looks the exactly same either direction
you are headed. Not much happening.

Tina (my lovely escort for the evening) and myself in the entry hall.
Photo Credit: Dan Coyro, (Tina's regular guy)

The famous Lily pond

Enthusiastic Botanical Art fans. That is the Fabulous Ann in the white dress. Hey Ann It was a super pleasure to meet you. Thanks for your kind words and support!

More Looking at my work

Congratulations to all the Artists included. You can see a list of the artists exhibiting at an interesting site I discovered called ArtPlante Today .

Detail from the Garden: Hot, Beautiful & Cool

I wanted to thank all the amazing staff from the Filoli as well as the Curators, Volunteers and Jurors who put the exhibition together. A big thanks to Cathy Rampley!

Thank You - Tina And Dan for the Great Lunch, Dinner, Prosecco at Soif Wine Bar & Charming Santa Cruz Hospitality. See you soon!

11th Annual Botanical Art Exhibit, FILOLI ESTATE

I am pleased to announce my participation in the 11th Annual Botanical Art Exhibit at the beautiful Filoli Estate, CA.

Located 30 miles south of San Francisco, Filoli is an historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century.


These amazing announcements were created by my super good friend and designer extraordinaire: CONN BRATTAIN of Cuckoo for Coconuts fame!


Filoli
11th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition
June 23 through August 16th, 2009

Artist Reception
Thursday July 16th, 5-7PM
Reservations required
R.S.V.P. to 650-364-8300 xt 298 or
classes@filoli.org

Filoli
86 Canada Road
Woodside, CA 94062
650-364-8300
www.filoli.org

Along with strolling through the beautiful gardens and touring the house , you can also view the Florilegium collections on view during the Botanical Art Exhibit.

Check out their Blooming Calendar to see what might be blooming when you make your visit!

Phalaenopsis bellina

A small little update.
Phalaenopsis bellina
watercolor on paper
11 x 11


More about the beautiful Phalaenopsis bellina .

TWO BOOKS IN A PAINTING

Two books this time! Twice the enjoyment!

Book Painting, 2 Books
Watercolour on paper
22" x 22"

Wednesday White May, 2009

A lovely work I recently completed. Enjoy on a windy Wednesday.

BOOK PAINTING III

Here is another in the "Book Painting" series. Watercolor on paper 30" x 22"
"Flowering Plants of the World, Pages 150 & 151"

Here is the painting & the book

This is a picture of the book

This is a detail of the painting.

BLUE IT

The blue ribbon. Oooooooo!


And finally, the image from the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show all framed up!

AN ORCHID OUTING IN SANTA BARBARA 2009

Today I drove from Los Angeles , California. To: Santa Barbara, California (and back). It was a beautiful day to drive up (and down). I transported a painting which I was invited to display at the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. This is the 64th Annual SBIOS Exhibition . An innovative aspect of this show is that they exhibit orchid themed fine artwork alongside fantastic orchid displays by growers from around the globe.



The show is held at the Earl Warren Center in Santa Barbara. Orchids collectors and the like come from all over the world to see this show. Check out the architecture of this place. I love it, so cool. Look at the shapes of these steel structures.

After I checked-in with the lovely Art Committee, I took a stroll around where the other vendors were setting up. Here is a beautiful Cattleya fresh out of the box. I love the packing material draping down.
I found these ladies creating Ikebana arrangements. I wanted to get closer but a barrier had been placed around the work/display area so they could do their Zen designs without interruption. They were soooo in there moments.


A beautiful display in progress. The photo is deceiving. The top of the white orchid in the foreground is chest high to me. The pots are big , the plant is big, the parfume..... to die. I will try to update the grower/designer.


Pictured here is Mr. Earl Warren ?, on a bronze horse with a perfect blue sky of the California coast. If you are in the area check out the show from the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show 2009